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Barton: City Market 'horsefeathers'

I’ve seen my share of horse’s behinds in Savannah’s drinking establishments. But I’ve yet to see an entire horse.

If I did, that would mean one of two things occurred:

(1) A clear violation of Georgia’s health code, or, (2) I’ve overindulged and need to call a cab and head home.

This is why the city’s decision to boot three carriage companies out of City Market because of “health concerns” makes no sense.

I’ll even call “horsefeathers.”

This newspaper reported Saturday that the city is evicting these iconic tourist attractions from City Market, after more than two decades, when their current leases expire in mid-January. Why? The city’s acting director of its mobility and parking services office, Veleeta McDonald, puts it this way.

She said Wet Willie’s, which has a successful daiquiri-selling operation down on River Street, is opening a City Market location near the stands for the horse-drawn carriages. “Because of the proximity to the outside seating in the courtyard area, the horses are going to have to move,” McDonald said. “It really is a health concern.”

To which I respond, “Whoa, Nellie.” (Or, I suppose, “Whoa, Veleeta.”)

If there’s a legitimate public health concern, then the legitimate agency that deals with it is the Chatham County Health Department. And what do inspectors there think about horses in outdoor venues like City Market?

Here’s the word from the horse’s mouth — Todd Jones, environmental health director for the Chatham County Health Department:

“The Georgia Food Code does not establish a required distance for horses or other livestock to a food service establishment,” Jones said. “The Food Code does preclude animals within the establishment other than service animals. Health department investigations of vector concerns (flies) and improper animal waste disposal would be complaint driven.”

Bottom line? As long as the horses remain outdoors at City Market and aren’t clip-clopping inside the new Wet Willie’s, trying to order a Call-A-Cab and acting obnoxious when the bartenders ask for IDs, they aren’t violating the health code.

So what about flies? Or horse droppings and urine? Has the health department had its hands full, so to speak?

City officials hinted that Wet Willie’s wants the horses lassoed. But is that true? Perhaps not.

Bill Dickinson, Wet Willie’s owner and a smart guy, has said he’s opening in that choice spot, horses or no horses. If you’ve seen some of the weekend crowds on River Street, you know he’s on the money. Neither heat, stinky smells, debauchery or the occasional homicide will stop a determined customer from his or her appointed piña coladas.

I talked to City Market director Marcie Hill about the horses, but only for a few nanoseconds. “I’m not going to discuss it,” she said.

Too bad. She may have a beef.

The city, which owns St. Julian Street, entered into a long-term lease in 1985 with City Market management, allowing it to use portions of that street as a pedestrian-only mall. City Market maintains and controls those sections. The city holds the lease with the carriage companies for use of the curbs at Jefferson and Barnard streets. The charge is $100 a month. But, over the years, the companies have crept away from the curb and into City Market-controlled St. Julian itself.

But that’s not a health concern. It’s a turf issue. It should be possible to straighten it out if everyone is reasonable.

That’s what Mayor Edna Jackson seems to want. She told me visited City Market “incognito” on Sunday and chatted with tourists, business people and others.

“I didn’t talk to anyone who had a problem with the horses,” she said. “We need to find a way so everybody can co-exist.”

Jackson is hot to trot on getting all the stakeholders together for a meeting and hashing out a compromiise. That’s a fine idea.

But here’s what she should tell any horse’s rear ends who still have trouble communicating: One clop means “yes.” Two clops mean “no.” And she should remember to bring a bag of oats.

Tom Barton is the editorial page editor of the Savannah Morning News. tom.barton@savannahnow.com.